Jurgen Klopp has defended Manchester United over their failed attempt to sign Erling Haaland, insisting Liverpool wouldn’t have been able to secure his signature either.
Haaland held talks with the Red Devils before deciding to join Borussia Dortmund in Janaury instead.
The 19-year-old has been a huge hit with the Bundesliga outfit, smashing 11 goals in just seven games.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer claimed United decided against a move for Haaland due to his agent’s demands.
However, Kop boss Klopp has sympathised with his counterpart and admits Liverpool wouldn’t have been able to pull off a move for the Norwegian hitman either.
(Image: FRIEDEMANN VOGEL/EPA-EFE/REX)
He said: “Everybody blames Man United for not getting him, but we wouldn’t have got him.
“We couldn’t have got him. It’s as easy as that. ‘He wanted a top team, as soon as possible, with an open space… Borussia Dortmund.
“That’s timing. I hope you know how much I love and respect the people at Dortmund, but it’s not that they made a perfect approach and did this and that, it was more they were there, had the space, number nine… ‘here we go, you are 19 years old, want to play Champions League, top end of Bundesliga, so go for it’.
“Nobody else had a chance, I’m pretty sure, no matter what they say.”
Haaland’s agent Mino Raiola said Haaland chose not to join the Red Devils.
(Image: FRIEDEMANN VOGEL/EPA-EFE/REX)
(Image: Bongarts/Getty Images)
“The club that he had the most direct contact with him was United,” Raiola told The Telegraph.
“They spoke to him the most. Everybody had the chance to talk to him in person. We let that happen especially when he knows Ole.
“Clearly he [Erling Haaland] felt that at this moment it was not the right step in his career. There is nothing against Manchester United or Ole.
“He chose Borussia Dortmund ahead of them and other clubs and I’m very happy because he is going to the club he wanted to go to and that is best for him right now.
“If he wanted to go to Manchester United I would have been obliged to take him to Manchester United but he did not.”
“When you are 19 then maybe you prefer not to go to the Premier League,” he added. “The offer from Manchester United was good.
“It was not about the economics. It is just the player chose Borussia Dortmund at this stage of his career.”
